Table adapter

ABSTRACT

A tabletop adapter ( 10 ) is disclosed which is adapted to be mounted to a pole ( 12 ). The tabletop adapter has a compression device ( 19 ) and a tabletop ( 20 ). The compression device includes a compression tube ( 21 ), a compression collar ( 22 ), and an alignment pin ( 23 ). The compression tube has a flange ( 24 ), an externally threaded portion ( 25 ), and an externally tapered portion ( 26 ). The tapered portion has a series of slots ( 29 ) therein which allow the diameter of the tapered portion to vary with the application of an inwardly directed force thereon. The compression collar has a tubular, internally threaded portion ( 31 ) from which extends an internally tapered portion ( 32 ). The internally tapered portion is configured to engage the externally tapered portion of the compression tube. The tabletop has a central hole ( 38 ) therein configured to receive and thereby be journalled onto the pole.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to adapters which enable a tabletop to be mountedto a pole and a combination thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It has been well known to construct tables having legs. Some tables havebeen designed which include an integrated central pole mounted to theunderside of a tabletop and a base mounted to the opposite end of thepole. These tables are typically fixed in height.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a table that can beadjusted in height or a table that can be converted from a pre-existingpole. It is to the provision of such therefore that the presentinvention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred form of the invention a tabletop adapter configured to becoupled to an upright pole comprises an annular compression collarhaving an inner portion and an outer portion mateably coupled to theinner portion. The inner portion is compressible through movement of theinner portion relative to the outer portion. The adapter also has atabletop having a hole therethrough configured to allow the passage ofthe upright pole therethrough. The tabletop is coupled to thecompression collar. With this construction, the compression collar maybe mounted to the upright pole and the outer portion moved relative tothe inner portion so that the compression collar grips the upright polethereby locking the position of the tabletop upon the upright pole.

In another preferred form of the invention a table comprises a base, anupright pole extending from the base, a compression device journalledupon the pole for relative movement there along, and a tabletop coupledto the compression device and having a hole therethrough to enable thetabletop to be journalled upon the pole for relative movement therealong. With this construction, the height of the tabletop may beadjusted by moving the tabletop along the pole and then fixing theposition by actuating the compression device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tabletop adapter embodying principlesof the invention in a preferred form, the tabletop adapter is shownmounted to the pole section of a pole fan.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the tabletop adapter and a portion of the polesection of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop adapter and a portionof the pole section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compression collar of the tabletopadapter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the compression tube of the tabletopadapter of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a tabletop adapter10 in a preferred form of the invention. The tabletop adapter 10 isshown mounted to the pole section 12 of a pole fan 13. The pole fan 13has a base 14 and a fan assembly 15 opposite the base. The pole section12 has a series of mounting holes 17 therein.

The tabletop adapter 10 has a compression device 19 and a tabletop 20mounted to the compression device 19. The compression device 19 includesa compression tube or inner portion 21, a compression collar or outerportion 22 adapted to mate with the compression tube 21, and analignment pin 23.

The compression tube 21 has a gripping flange 24, an externally threadedportion 25, and an externally tapered portion 26, as best shown in FIG.5. The flange 24 has a notch 27 configured to receive a top portion ofthe alignment pin 23. The tapered portion 26 has a series of slots 29therein which allow the internal diameter of the tapered portion 26 tovary with the application of an inwardly directed force thereon.

The compression collar 22 has a tubular, internally threaded portion 31from which extends an internally tapered portion 32, as best shown inFIG. 4. The internally tapered portion 32 is configured to engage theexternally tapered portion 26 of the compression tube. The compressioncollar 22 also has a mounting flange 34 extending from the top edge ofthe tapered portion 32. The mounting flange 34 has a series of mountingholes 35 therein through which mounting screws 36 are passed andthreaded into the underside of the tabletop 20.

The tabletop 20 has a central hole 38 therein configured to receive andthereby be journalled onto the pole section of the pole fan.

In use, the alignment pin 23 is positioned within a pole sectionmounting hole 17 below the desired height of the tabletop 20. With thecompression collar 22 loosely coupled to the compression tube 21, thepole section 12 is then journalled through the central hole 38 of thetabletop. If the pole section is that of a pole fan, the pole sectionmust be removed from either the base or the fan assembly or must becomprised of more than one pole portion to allow the pole to pass intothe tabletop hole.

Once the compression tube flange 24 comes to rest upon the alignment pin23 the compression tube 21 is rotated to a position wherein thealignment pin 23 falls into the flange notch 27, thereby restrictingfurther rotation about the pole section. The compression collar 22 isthen rotated relative to the compression tube 21, causing thecompression collar internally tapered portion 32 to be forced inwardlyagainst the compression tube externally tapered portion 26, as shown inFIG. 3 This force causes the externally tapered portion 26 to contractand firmly grip the pole section 12, thereby locking the position of thetabletop adapter to the pole section.

It should be understood that the alignment pin 23 is not mandatory asthe compression device 19 may be operated without such. However, thealignment pin eases the operation by supporting the tabletop adapter inposition as the compression device is actuated.

It should be understood that the present invention may be utilized withany upright pole and is not intended to be limited to a combinationwhich includes pole fans.

It thus is seen that a tabletop adapter or adjustable height table isnow provided which overcomes problems with those of the prior art. Whilethis invention has been described in detail with particular referencesto the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that manymodifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expresslyrecited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scopeof the invention as set forth in the following claims.

1. A tabletop adapter configured to be coupled to an upright pole, thetabletop adapter comprising: (a) an annular compression collar having aninner portion and an outer portion mateably coupled to said innerportion, said inner portion having being compressible through movementof said inner portion relative to said outer portion, and (b) a tabletophaving a hole therethrough configured to allow the passage of theupright pole therethrough, said tabletop being coupled to saidcompression collar, whereby the compression collar may be mounted to theupright pole and the outer portion moved relative to the inner portionso that the compression collar grips the upright pole thereby lockingthe position of the tabletop upon the upright pole.
 2. The tabletopadapter of claim 1 wherein said inner portion and said outer portionhave threads and wherein said inner portion and said outer portion arethreadably coupled to each other so that rotational movement of saidouter portion causes said inner portion to be compressed upon theupright pole.
 3. The tabletop adapter of claim 2 further including analignment pin adapted to be mounted to the upright pole, and whereinsaid inner portion is configured to mate with said alignment pin toprevent rotational movement of said inner portion.
 4. The tabletopadapter of claim 1 wherein said outer portion has a mounting flange andwherein said tabletop is mounted to said mounting flange.
 5. A tabletopadapter comprising a compression device having a threaded compressiontube and a threaded compression collar adapted to be coupled to saidcompression tube to impart a compression force upon said compressiontube, a tabletop coupled to said compression device, wherein thecompression device and tabletop may be journalled upon a pole and fixedin location thereon through operation of the compression device.
 6. Thetabletop adapter of claim 5 wherein said compression tube and saidcompression collar have threads and wherein said compression tube andsaid compression collar are threadably coupled to each other so thatrotational movement of one to the other causes said compression tube tobe compressed upon the upright pole.
 7. The tabletop adapter of claim 6further including an alignment pin adapted to be mounted to the uprightpole, and wherein said compression tube is configured to mate with saidalignment pin to prevent rotational movement of said compression tube.8. The tabletop adapter of claim 5 wherein said compression collar has amounting flange and wherein said tabletop is mounted to said mountingflange.
 9. A table comprising: a base; an upright pole extending fromsaid base; a compression device journalled upon said pole for relativemovement there along; and a tabletop coupled to said compression deviceand having a hole therethrough to enable said tabletop to be journalledupon said pole for relative movement there along, whereby the height ofthe tabletop may be adjusted by moving the tabletop along the pole andthen fixing the position by actuating the compression device.
 10. Thetabletop adapter of claim 9 wherein said compression device includes athreaded compression tube and a threaded compression collar adapted tobe coupled to said compression tube to impart a compression force uponsaid compression tube.
 11. The tabletop adapter of claim 10 wherein saidcompression tube and said compression collar have threads and whereinsaid compression tube and said compression collar are threadably coupledto each other so that rotational movement of one to the other causessaid compression tube to be compressed upon the upright pole.
 12. Thetabletop adapter of claim 11 further including an alignment pin adaptedto be mounted to the upright pole, and wherein said compression tube isconfigured to mate with said alignment pin to prevent rotationalmovement of said compression tube.
 13. The tabletop adapter of claim 10wherein said compression collar has a mounting flange and wherein saidtabletop is mounted to said mounting flange.
 14. The tabletop adapter ofclaim 9 wherein said pole is the upright portion of a pole fan.